Corruption as distinct crime: the need to reconceptualise internal control on controlling bureaucratic occupational fraud

Purpose The purpose of this study is to provide theoretical guidance that enables local governments to deal with occupational fraud. Design/methodology/approach The quantitative approach is used to examine the efficacy of the Committee of Sponsoring Organisations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) internal control framework in tackling occupational fraud in local government. To achieve the goals, the authors performed a survey of the Indonesian auditor institutions. Findings It is not appropriate to argue that all types of local government fraud can be deterred by a single internal control. The study suggests that COSO internal controls are not effective for dealing with corruption cases. However, the authors do find the efficacy of those controls are obvious for controlling asset misappropriation and financial statement fraud. This result indicates that if the COSO internal control framework is only designed for routine financial control and asset protection, it significantly and negatively influences its efficacy to deal with occupational fraud. This study has both theoretical and managerial implications, discussed separately. Originality/value In the field of prevention, the authors cannot make generalised theories and approaches for dealing with occupational fraud. Whilst previous authors have offered fraud deterrents in terms of internal controls, they have failed to realise the need to understand their effectiveness for particular forms of fraud. This paper sheds light on the effectiveness of internal controls in achieving their goals. This has both practical applications and stimulates theoretical insights.

Deconstructing the origins of Cressey’s Fraud Triangle

Purpose Cressey’s Fraud Triangle has been referenced in 8,584 studies and academic papers [1] and is a stalwart of training courses for accounting and audit practitioners and fraud investigators. The Fraud Triangle has endured for three decades in the academic and practitioner worlds. This study aims to explore the origins of Cressey’s Fraud Triangle and challenge its practical value to a fraud investigator. Design/methodology/approach This study has developed from analysis of a targeted literature review carried out as part of a wider study into occupational fraud and corruption. Findings Cressey’s name is intrinsically linked to the Fraud Triangle, although he never used the expression during his lifetime. Two of the three motivational factors identified by Cressey (1953) were developed from the earlier work of Svend Riemer (1941), who it is suggested should have equal billing with Donald Cressey for the concepts that led to the creation of the Fraud Triangle. Practical implications The paper illustrates the limitations of Cressey’s Fraud Triangle for practitioners. Originality/value Many academics and researchers have either misunderstood Cressey’s role in the development of the Fraud Triangle or been unaware of its true origins. Although the pioneering work of Riemer is referenced in a 2014 study on the Fraud Triangle by Alexander Schuchter and Michael Levi, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to identify the influence of Riemer on Cressey’s thinking and the development of the Fraud Triangle.

National culture and occupational fraud magnitude: The moderating role of fraud type

This study investigates the relationship between national culture and the magnitude of occupational fraud. Guided by national culture theory and economic theory of crime, we propose that a country’s culture, as measured by Hofstede’s six national culture dimensions: power distance, individualism, achievement orientation, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation, and indulgence, is related to the magnitude of occupational fraud. Further, we propose that the type of fraud moderates this relationship. We test these effects using a two-level model on a dataset of 2,898 occupational fraud cases across 41 countries. We find that uncertainty avoidance and long-term orientation display significant positive association with occupational fraud magnitude (while power distance and achievement orientation display marginally significant positive association). Further, the effects of achievement orientation, uncertainty avoidance, and indulgence are moderated by fraud type (while power distance and long-term orientation show marginally significant interaction effects).

The importance of implementing the responsibility accounting features in Jordanian public companies in limiting the occupational fraud from the point of view of internal auditors and external auditors

This paper was conducted to determine the importance of applying the features of responsibility accounting in Jordanian shareholding companies in limiting occupational fraud from the point of view of internal auditors and external auditors. It focuses on comparing their opinions and attitudes towards this issue. The study used a questionnaire that was designed and distributed to a random sample of 98 internal auditors who were shareholders of the firms and 93 external auditors who audited the accounts of the companies. The data collection tool included paragraphs about the seven features of responsibility accounting represented like dividing the organizational structure of the company into responsibility centers, and the existence of a system of delegation to the managers of responsibility centers with their powers in the shareholding. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS statistical package. It was found that there is a role to adopt and apply all the features of responsibility accounting in Jordanian shareholding companies from the point of view of both internal and external auditors in limiting occupational fraud. The study recommended the adoption of an accounting system in companies that are in line with responsibility accounting given their role in limiting occupational fraud. The study also sheds light on the importance of external auditors giving attention to reviewing and evaluating the organizational environment and administrative procedures in the company to ensure that they are consistent with integrity and honesty.

Tackling practical issues in fraud control: a practice-based study

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a warning sign for fraud studies in developing occupational fraud deterrent, and offer possible solution to deal with it. Design/methodology/approach This study was conducted in one of regencies in Indonesia. The authors interviewed nine top managers across local agencies and four senior local government internal auditors. The people involved have formal and informal networks with a regent who has been arrested by Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission, because of white-collar crime syndicates, when running governmental systems. Findings While many approaches to fraud mitigation have been proposed, organisations in practice particularly in the public sector find it hard to implement successful methods to understand, detect and prevent fraud. In practice, this occurs due to simplified assumption on or multiplicity of overlapping fraud concepts. There is also a lack of appreciation of impact of organisational dynamics which facilitates fraud. Behavioural and political issues within an organisation need to be addressed when proposing fraud prevention. The study emphasises that it is too naïve to offer internal control as one-size-fits-all fraud prevention. For practitioners, corrupt behaviour tends to be the most challenging part, compared to other fraud schemes such as asset misappropriation and financial statement fraud. In this paper, the authors urge organisation to adapt a more systematic approach, involving across governmental anti-corruption agencies and civil society actors. This may be facilitated through communication among those parties, including a sound whistleblowing system. Then, organisation also should consider preventive measures that go beyond from administrative or technical internal controls. Originality/value The results may give new directions for designing fraud prevention.

Strategies to Prevent and Detect Occupational Fraud in Small Retail Businesses

The objective of this multiple case study was to explore internal control strategies owners of small retail businesses in southeastern Pennsylvania used to prevent and detect occupational fraud. The results of this study indicated that there are areas for action that owners of small retail businesses could take to prevent and detect occupational fraud. Strategies business owners could implement to protect their businesses from occupational fraud include monitoring, employee identity documents to track employee activity, separation of duties, and communication with employees. Small business owners serve their communities by focusing on wealth distribution, including donations to local charities that foster economic stability with positive effects on society.

Occupational Fraud in Micro-Financial Institutions in Cameroon: Strategies for Timely Detection and Control

Occupational fraud has persistently become a hurtful problem in micro-financial institutions (MFIs) in Cameroon lately. Staff and management of some MFIs are suspended, terminated, or litigated after they are suspected of involvement in occupational fraud over the years. Such delayed detections have caused huge losses to the organisations. In this respect, a study was carried out to examine strategies for timely detection and control of occupational fraud in MFIs in Cameroon. An online survey was opened to experienced certified fraud examiners and auditors to give their experiences of strategies for timely occupational fraud detection and control in micro-financial institutions in Cameroon. The data generated was analysed, regressed, and interpreted to produce empirical results that MFIs in Cameroon apart of installing sound internal control systems, need to adopt and implement monitoring and surprise audits, tips and notifications, rotation of duty and abrogation of paid annual leave in order to secure timely detection and control of occupational fraud before it wreaks heavy losses on the institution. Furthermore, MFIs in Cameroon are cautioned to use information technology control and surveillance strategies with reservation because the facilities that support their operation are poorly developed, yet politicised. MFIs should not hope to discover an occupational fraud through accidents and/or a confessions. They are encouraged to treat their workers fairly but bearing in mind that no matter how well workers are kept comfortable occupational fraud could still be committed by management and staff who suffer from insatiable greed and/or psychosis.